This event—the final lecture of a six-session series—focuses on the personal and social mores behind the passionate opinions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. By first becoming aware of the values underlying our own political views, we can build a more stable framework for discussing this divisive issue in the pluralistic Jewish community. More specifically, the program asks the questions:

Can we elevate the divisive discourse about Israel in our communities to a more productive communal debate?

Does being diaspora Jews impact our view of the situation?

What values color how we view the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and how it should be addressed?

What does peace actually mean in Jewish tradition?

While earlier sessions were conducted by senior scholars from the Shalom Hartman Institute, we are proud to announce that this final session will be led by the President of the Shalom Hartman Institute, Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman. In addition to a PhD in Jewish Philosophy from Hebrew University, Dr. Hartman has degrees in Political Philosophy from NYU, Religion from Temple University and Rabbinic Ordination from the Shalom Hartman Institute.